UW-Discovery Farms Conference: Crop Management in the 21st Century – December 12

Farmers are often at the mercy of factors beyond their personal control. While the list can be diverse, two key factors beyond personal control are commodity prices and the weather. Tools to manage risk from prices below profit points or damaging weather include commodity price contracting, picking seed genetics for pest management, tillage to warm and dry the soil, and many more.

Have you ever thought of soil and water conservation as a risk management tool? As we all learned from the 2012 crop season, too little water can be devastating, and intense storms that deliver large amounts of water in a short time period can be just as risky. The University of Wisconsin – Discovery Farms Program is hosting a one-day conference to explore the economics of soil and water conservation, and whether implementing conservation practices can serve as a risk management tool.

Mark your calendar for December 12th and come to the Wilderness, Glacier Canyon Conference Center in Wisconsin Dells. Registration is $40, includes lunch and materials, and can be done on-line at www.uwdiscoveryfarms.org. Plan to arrive at 9:30 am; presentations and discussion begin at 10:00 am; and we will finish by 4:00 pm. Continuing education credits will be 4.5 CEUs total with 1.0 in Nutrient Management and 3.5 in Soil & Water Management.

You will hear from several speakers and learn: What practices are reducing environmental and economic risks on Wisconsin farms? How much water do I need for a crop this year? Is climate change in Wisconsin impacting agriculture? Is conservation tillage the right choice for your bottom line? How do large storm events impact annual sediment and nutrient loss? What risks come along with farming steep slopes? And, what are the economics, challenges, and new opportunities in manure handling?

Crop Management in the 21st Century; put this one on your calendar! Wednesday, December 12, 2012; 9:30 am – 4:00 pm in Wisconsin Dells. Register at www.uwdiscoveryfarms.org or call 715-983-5668 for more information.